Other Food Allergies

Allergy shots prevent asthma?

Has anyone else been told by their allergist that immunotherapy prevents asthma from developing?

I heard this during Dr. Zave Chad's talk at the Allergy Expo in Toronto, plus my own allergist told me today that I need to start my youngest child, Hannah, on allergy shots in order to prevent her reactive airways from developing into asthma.

I tried doing a search of the boards but couldn't find out if anyone had posted this info. If it's true, I think it would nudge some folks off the fence when they're undecided about whether to start their children on immunotherapy.

Dr. Chad says that in order for immunotherapy to work as an asthma preventer, the allergen needs to be well identified and any existing asthma needs to be well controlled (by removing or reducing exposure to the allergen).

At any rate, my sister has severe asthma and Hannah has already endured breathing treatments at the ER and been prescribed Ventolin and Flovent a number of times (but hasn't been officially diagnosed with asthma). Hannah will need weekly shots for her dust allergies for two to five years, but it will be so worth it to prevent her lungs from deteriorating like my sisters have. Anyone else feel that allergy shots prevented asthma from developing/getting worse?

Also, from Dr. Zave Chad's talk (just going over my notes) dust-mite allergy is [b]major[/b] risk factor for asthma. Almost everyone with asthma also has a dust-mite allergy and no other allergen seems to be so strongly associated with asthma.

darthcleo, I wonder if your cat allergy was the only allergy you should have been having shots for? Dr. Chad said the allergen must be "well identified" for the shots to work as an asthma preventer, and while I certainly don't think you're as old as dirt [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] allergy testing was a much more inexact science when we were young. Do you also have a dust-mite allergy?

Nor does two, but here's my story: I don't remember a time when I wasn't getting allergy shots as a child until high school when I said enough was enough (by that time I was going to a new doctor and getting three shots a week in addition to 3 pills 3x a day).

But I do know I had allergy shots from a very early age (for cats, dogs, grass, molds, pollen, etc.), and I developed asthma when I was 10. Now, I had bronchitis on an extremely regular basis throughout my young life (before and after asthma joined the team), and I had bouts with pneumonia, too.

Having said this, that was almost 30 years ago, and I'm sure things have changed since then. So I'm not saying that you're doctor is wrong. But that wasn't the case for me. Perhaps it was for other children in my day, or perhaps shots have changed.

If I could have done something to avoid getting asthma, I would have. I used to have to go to the ER at least once/year because of severe attacks. My mother took me when my fingernails were blue/purple, as I wasn't getting enough oxygen.

Thank you both for sharing your stories. I just wanted to emphasis that Dr. Chad said immunotherapy alone won't do the trick - it must be done in conjunction with removing the allergic component. If there was still a dust-mite filled bedroom, or a mouldy bathroom/backyard, or a pet in the house... the allergy shots wouldn't have been as effective as they could have been.

If all three "conditions" are observed (well-identified allergen, allergic component removed from household, immunotherapy) then perhaps there would be greater success preventing asthma?

I began getting allergy shots before my 2nd birthday and continued them through age 14. I have asthma but have mosthly outgrown it with very few problems anymore. My sister never had allergy shots and her asthma is musch worse than mine. She still needs lots of meds to stay even a little under control.

FWIW, as an adult I tried to do allergy shots again but they made me too sick. I would have huge reactions at the site of the shots and feel as if I had the flu for several days afterward. I don't know if the shots have somehow changed from 30+ years ago, but DS did not tolerate them well either.

Both of my boys got allergy shots and both have asthma. Their asthma got better while on allergy shots but that was because their shots were for things that would trigger their asthma attacks. Such as tree & grass pollen, dogs, cats, and the such. Some people figure out what their asthma triggers are such as strong odors, dust, and/or changes in the temperatures. Some people never figure out what their triggers are and therefore, treating the enviromental allergies help most people greatly.

My oldest DS was on allergy shots for 7 years and he still has asthma. But I must admit, his asthma was much better while on the shots. I hope this helps. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Today our allergist reccommended shots. She said a study came out recently that says it can prevent mild asthma (what dd is diagnosed with) from becoming worse. I'm going to try to find info online to see if it supports her claim.

Allergy shots are recommended for patients with allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis and stinging insect allergy. They are not recommended for food allergies. Before a decision is made to begin allergy shots, the following issues must be considered:
• Length of allergy season and the severity of your symptoms
• Whether medications and/or changes to your environment can control your allergy symptoms
• Your desire to avoid long-term medication use
• Time: immunotherapy requires a major time commitment
• Cost: may vary depending on your region and insurance coverage
Use this http://forum.internationaldrugmart.com/ forum to find more such interesting information like this.

My asthma improved after five years of allergy shots for mold and dust. I used to have astham attacks in fall from mold and now I don't have any problems. I am 59 and I took the shots in late 20's and early 30's.

Allergy shots are one type of treatment for asthma that may benefit those with allergies and asthma, called allergic asthma. Also called immunotherapy, allergy shots are not an asthma cure like an injection of antibiotics might cure an infection. Instead, allergy shots work a bit more like a vaccine.

Allergy shots for asthma actually contain a very small amount of an allergen (something you're allergic to). Over time, the dose is increased. By exposing you to greater and greater amounts of the allergen, your body is likely to develop a tolerance to it. If the treatment goes well, your allergic reaction will become much less severe.